Rotary printing press



E. w. WORTHINGTON 2,369,814

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed. Nov. 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1945- E. w.WORTHINGTON 2,369,314

ROTARY PRINT ING PRES S 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY $1M 3M4. Z'rTYS Filed Nov.14, 1940 1945- E. w. WORTHINGTON 2,369,314

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 14, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR'Patented Feb. 20, 1945 2,369,814 ROTARY rnm'rmc PRESS Emory W;Worthington, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1940,Serial No. 365,575 7 Claims. (01.101-350) The present invention relatesto novel and improved inking mechanism particularly adapted for use withhigh speed rotary printing presses.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumehtalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view of a typicaland illustrative embodiment of the invention; 1

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of a bearing support for one endof the ink supplying and controlling roller; Figure 3 is a sideelevation, with certain parts broken away, of an ink supplyingandcontrolling roller in accordance with the present invention and itssupporting bearings;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form ofroller mounting in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a central fragmentary sectional view of the bearings whichmay be used in connection with the inking roller;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, with certain parts brokenaway, of a further form of inking roller in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure '7 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a modifiedembodiment of the invention as applied to the inking of a rotarynewspaper press; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the fountain and inksupplying and controlling rollers shown in Figure 7.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel andimproved inking system particularly adapted for use with high speedrotary printing presses A further object of the invention is theprovision of a rotary inking system in which there is a minimum number nof parts, which are of exceedingly simple con-' amount of mechanicalvibration. The invention also provides an inking system which willproduce umrorm inking at exceedingly mgn speeds and will hold color evenat threading speeds without changes in adjustment. Still another obJectof the invention is the provision of an inking mechanism which requiresonly a small amount of power for its operation and in which the ink 18supplied continuously from the fountain roller to the plate cylinderunder accurate control without the excessive friction of those partscustomarily bearing against the fountain rollers.

In accordance with the present invention and the illustrativeembodiment, a fountain roller is slowly rotated in a fountain partiallyfilled with ink to be supplied to ,the plate cylinder of a rotaryprinting press. Cooperating with the fountain roller but out of contacttherewith is a roller for receiving ink from the'surface of the fountainroller and transmitting it to the ink distributing and form inkingrollers and drums. The receiving roller also serves to accuratelycontrol the amount of ink fed to the distributing drums and inkingrollers as well as to reduce the rate at which ink is fed so that a thinuniform film of ink may be maintained on the distributing drums and theform inking rollers notwithstanding the unusually thick film of inkwhich is picked up from the fountain by the fountain roller.

The roller for receiving ink from the fountain roller consists of aroller rotating at substantially the surface speed of the plate on theplate cylinder and if desired may be driven by frictional engagementwith an inking roller which is driven frictionally from one of the inkdistributing drums, but is preferably driven by gearing from thefountain roller or one of the ink drums. The surface of this rollercapable of transferring ink is preferably greatly reduced and maycomprise one or more relatively narrow helical ribs or hands raisedabove the surface of the roller, only the upper portion of these bandsserving to contact with the inking roller and with the ink on thefountain roller and thereby to transfer ink to the ink distributingsystem.

For additionally controlling the amount of ink fed from the fountain tothe plates, a gate knife is provided which may be variably positioned tovary the gap between it and the surface of the fountain roller, therebyserving to maintain constant the thickness of the substantial film ofink on the surface of the fountain roller. Means are also provided forregulating the degree of contact of the helical stripes with therelatively thick film of ink on the fountain roller, and for thispurpose the roller may be mounted for free rotation in eccentricbearings so as to be movable towards and from the fountain roller, orthe roller may be mounted in a pivoted fram on the fountain and theposition of the roller accurately determined by shims which arepositioned between one end of the pivoted frame.

Thu the invention makes possible the use of a relatively thick film ofink which can be easily controlled in thickness and the transfer of alimited amount of this ink film to a more rapidly moving inkdistributing surface which works the ink into a thin film of uniformthickness for application to the printing plates.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings showing a typicaland illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the invention isshown as applied to a highspeed rotary newspaper press. The ink fountaincomprises 'a trough in extending from one side frame of the press to theother, in which is suitably journalled a fountain roller ll driven at aslow rate from the press so that its speed is proportional thereto.Means are provided for removing excess ink from the surface oftherotating fountain roller M to maintain constant the amount of inkthereon and the thickness of the film of ink on the fountain roller. Asembodied, there is provided a flexible blade it which extends the lengthof the fountain roller it and is positioned to extend towards the rollerabove the surface of the ink in the fountain and on the side of theroller which is moving upwardly. This blade H is mounted on a support i3extending from one of the fountain ends to the other and securedthereto, and adjusting screws it, preferably one for each col umn widthof the roller are provided to contact with the upper surface of theblade l2 near its free edge and adjacent to the roller and press ittowards the roller against the normal resiliency of the blade tending tomove the blade away from the roller.

For receiving ink from the surface of the fountain roller H andtransferring it to the ink distributing system a roller having a reducedperipheral surface is provided and is positioned for free rotation outof contact with the fountain roller but at a fixed minute distancetherefrom. This roller may have a continuous surface in the I form of anarrow raised helical stripe, or it may comprise a plurality of elementsraised above its surface, and is preferably variably positionable withrespect to the fountain roller so as to vary the space between thesurface of the raised helical ribs and the surface of the fountainroller, thereby varying the degree of immersion of these ribs in thefilm of ink carried by the rotating fountain roller.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the helically ribbed transfer roller 20 ismounted for rotation by means of eccentrically adjustable bearings atits shaft ends, and by rotation of these eccentrics the distance betweenthe transfer roller 20 and the fountain roller H may be easily andaccurately changed at will. Roller 20 is provided witha shaft 2|, theends of which are rotatably supported in ball bearings 22 eccentricallyseated in eccentrics 23, and each eccentric is provided with aninterrupted flange 24 and ears 25. Each of the eccentrics is closelyfitted into the frame members 26 mounted on the top of the fountain andat the ends of the roller, and the eccentrics are held against rotationby means of the cap screws 28 passing through the arcuate slots 28 inflange 24 and threaded into the frame members 26. Projecting from theframe members 26 and into the interruptions of the flange 26 are lugs 3|threaded to receive the set screws 32 which bear against the face ofears 25 and serve for the rotational adjustment of the eccentric afterthe cap screws 28 have been loosened, thereby giving an accurate, minuteadjustment of the spacing of the roller 20 with respect to the fountainroller ll.

Figure 3 illustrates a preferred construction of the roller 20 and asthere shown roller 2t comprises an axially alined tubular shell 35formed with narrow helical ribs 36 which are raised slightly above thesurface of the roller 2b. This tubular portion 35 is mounted on theshaft 20 by means of the cylindrical plugs 38 which are tightly fittedto the interior of the shell and may be keyed to the shaft by keys 3Q.Preferably, the tubular roller section is held against axial movementand this is accomplished by the set screws 44 which pass through the endplugs into contact with the shaft 2!.

Figures 4 and 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention inwhich the proper spacing of the transfer roller 20 from the fountainroller l I is accomplished by means of shims, and for this purpose theroller 2% is mounted by means of the shaft 25 in pivoted frame members59). Each of the frame members 50 is pivoted on a shaft 5i extendinglongitudinally of the fountain and supported by lugs 52 projecting fromthe blade supporting member it, while at the forward ends these framemembers it are apertured to receive a cap screw 55 threaded into theforward edge 56 of the fountain and spaced therefrom by means of theshims 5i. By varying the thickness of the shims between the forward endof the frame members 50 and the fountain edge 56, the correct spacing ofthe roller 253 from the fountain roller M is accomplished, and once theproper spacing has been ascertained, it need not be varied for aconstant quality of ink and throughout wide variations in the setting ofthe blade if. I

Illustratively, the roller of Fig. 6 is shown as formed of a pluralityof hollow, alined sections 35 mounted by their plugs 38 on the shaft 2!!and provided with a central bearing 40 which is secured to the shaft 2!by means of the taper collar 42 so that the bearing is seated in thecylindrical portion 43 of the central support it. The ends of thesections 35 preferably project over the ends of the cylindrical portion43 to reduce the gap between the sections 35.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the various alined sections of thefountain roller 28 may be independently rotatable and their shafts 25 donot extend from one roller section into another roller section, andseparate ball bearings til are provided for each roller section betweenthe roller sections. Preferably, the ends El of shafts 25 are reducedand may be slid in and out of the inner race of their bearings 60 tofacilitate removal of on or more individual roller sections, and asthese roller sections are preferably of page width, the removal of anyparticular roller section silences the inking mechanism for that portionof the printing press.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the

inking mechanism of the present invention may conveniently be providedwith page cut-off means to prevent the feeding of ink to any page widthof the ink distributing drums, and for this purpose blades 18, each apage in width, are mounted on individual arms II which are pivotallymounted on pivots 12 near the rear edge of the fountain I8. Each ofthese arms is slotted as at 13 to receive the supporting head I4 of athumb screw 15 threaded into the blade supports '18 and provided with alock nut 11. In the raised position as shown the blade 18 does notinterfere with the normal supply of ink to the press, but as theseblades are lowered into contact with the ink on the surface of theroller I I, the thin film of ink on this roller is reduced so that it isnot sufficiently thick to transfer to the ribs on roller 28. Thisapparatus is more fully illustrated and described in my copendingapplication Serial Number 271,001,

Means are preferably provided for rotating the fountain roller II, thetransfer roller 28' and th drum contacting transfer roller 88 atpredetermined relative speeds. Transfer roller 28' and fountain roller II are preferably geared together and, if desired, may be geared to thetransfer roller 88 in frictional contact with the press driven inkdistributing drum, and separate positiv drivare geared to cylinder 83 tobe driven thereby,

and the form inking rollers 88, the transfer rollers 81 and thedistributing rollers 88 are driven by frictional engagement with thesevarious members, all in the conventional manner. Transfer roller 88 ispreferably made of resilient material, like the other transfer anddistributing rollers 86, 81 and 88, and roller 88 bears against thedistributing drum 85 with considerable pressure. At one end, roller 88is provided with a pinion 98 which meshes with a double faced gear 9|driving the gear 92 on the end of the shaft or transfer roller 28', andthis gear 92 also meshes with the double faced gear 94 driving gear 95on the end of the fountain roller shaft so that the fountain roller II,which is driven at a very low speed by the press, drives the transferroller 28' at an intermediate speed, and the transfer roller 88 isdriven faster and at the same surface speed as the distributing drum 85,thereby gradually and continuously thinning the film of ink as it istrans-.

ferred to faster running rollers and finally to the distributing drumfor thorough distribution and eventual application to the plates onprinting cylinder 83.

Figures '7 and 8 also illustrate a modified form of transfer roller forapplying interrupted patches of ink from the fountain roll II to thetransfer roller 88, as distinguished from the narrow but continuousstripe of ink applied by the rollers of Figures 3 and 6. As embodied,roller 28' is formed with raised longitudinal portions 91, which extendfrom one end of the roller to the other,- and are separated from eachother by the intervening portions 98 of reduced diameter. The differencein diameter between th portions 91 an 98 is sufficient to insure thatthe reduced po tions 98 do not contact with the film of ink on thefountain roller II, at the same time insuring good co tact between theportions 91 and that film of iii; Thus, longitudinal stripes or patchesof ink are picked up by the surface of the transfer roller 28' and aretransferred to the faster moving surface of the transfer roller 88,thereby supplying ink to the roller 88 and the upper portion of theinking mechanism once every several revolutions of the transfer roller88.

As is usual with rotary ink distributing mechanisms, various of the inkrollers 86, 81, 88 and the inking drums 84 and 85 are reciprocated orvibrated during their rotation so that the ink is not only evenlydistributed circumferentially of these various rotary members, but isalso evenly distributed axially of these members, and whether the ink isapplied in circumferentially interrupted patches or stripes, or isapplied in a helical stripe, it will be uniformly mixed and distributedon the form rollers 86 for application to the printing plates by thetime the ink has reached that point in the inking system. Also the speedof the fountain roller is greatly less than the speed of the web W,while the speed of the intermediate inking rollers is progressivelyincreased from the fountain roller to the form rollers 86.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the inventibn and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, thecombination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom toleave a substantial film on the roller, and a transfer roller havingraised helical peripheral portions to receive ink from the fountainroller, said portions being oppositely inclined at the two ends of therollers.

2. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, thecombination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom toleave a substantial film on the roller, a transfer roller having areduced peripheral surface to receive ink from the fountain roller, theperipheral surface of the transfer roller contacting the ink and not thefountain roller, an ink distributing drum, an ink roller in peripheralsurface contact with the ink distributing drum and the transfer roller,and means for driving the transfer roller at a higher peripheral speedthan the fountain roller.

3. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including incombination an ink fountain, having a fountain roller and a doctor bladespaced from the roller to leave a substantial film of ink on the roller,a transfer roller having the major portion of its surface cut away toleave raised peripheral portions, said peripheral portions contactingwith the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing against the fountainroller, an ink distributing drum, and an ink roller in peripheralsurface contact with the ink distributing drum and the peripheralportion of the transfer roller.

4. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including incombination an ink fountain having a fountain roller and a doctor bladespaced from the roller to leave a substantial film of ink on the roller,a transfer roller having the major portion of its surface cut away toleave raised helical peripheral portions, said transfer rollercontacting with the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing againstthe fountain roller, an ink distributing drum driven from the printingpress driving means, an ink roller in peripheral surface contact withthe transfer roller and the ink distributing drum, and gearinginterconnecting the ink roller and the transfer roller whereby thetransfer roller is driven from the ink distributing drum.

5. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including incombination an ink fountain having a fountain roller and a doctor bladespaced from the roller to leave a substantial film of ink on the roller,a transfer roller having the major portion of its surface cut away toleave raised helical peripheral portions, said transfer rollercontacting with the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing againstthe fountain roller, an ink distributing drum, an ink roller inperipheral contact with the ink drum and transfer roller, and means fordriving the fountain roller at a slow speed, the ink roller at a fastspeed and the transfer roller at an intermediate speed.

6. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, thecombination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom toleave a substantial film on the roller, a transfer roller having raisedperipheral portions contacting with the ink on the fountain roller butnot bearing against the fountain roller and means for varying thedistance between the peripheral surface of the fountain roller and theraised peripheral portions.

7. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, thecombination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom toleave a substantial film on the roller, and a transfer roller having areduced peripheral surface to receive ink, from the fountain roller, theperipheral surface of the transfer roller contacting the ink and not thefountain roller, and means for driving the transfer roller at a higherperipheral speed than the fountain roller.

EMORY W. WORTHINGTON.

